Hemp turning machine



Dec. 4, 1945. J. B. KucERA 2,390,375

HEM? TURNVING MACHINE Filed Jan. 7, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Joseph. /fu ceJL Dec- 4 1945-' J. B. KucERA 2,390,375

HEMP TURNING MACHINE Filed Jar. '7, 1944 24 sheets-sheet fa- 2i l i Il in! H I j 3'? E524 ff Patented Dec. 4, 1945 UNITEDl STATES PATENT l OFFICE \HEMP TURNING MACHINE Joseph B. Kucera, Traer, Ioww ApplicatonsJanuary 7, 1944, Serial No. 517,453

claims. loi. 5ft-37o) This invention relates generally to `machines for turning over windrowed `hemp andl theV like s and in particular to al hemp turning machine capable of uniformly picking-up the hemp, moving the hemp in a smooth `unbroken stream throughithe machine, and then-discharging the hemp in a turned over position relativetoits position when pickedup. This applicationris a continuation-impart of application Serial No. 472,975, led 'January 20, 1943.

Hempis` generallycut in windrows and positioned transversely of a windrow withrthe butt ends atlone side `of a windrow. One side ofthe hemp isi rst" retted or seasoned and the hemp is thenturnedA over toseason the other side. Since hemp often grows to lengths of twelveland fifteen feet many difculties have been encounteredin uniformly-feeding the hemp into thepick-up means of the hemp-turning machine and in carryingthe` hemp `on the pick-up means and throughthe machine in asmooth unbroken flow; `The pick-up means is generallycomprised of a series of downwardly andv forward- 1y extended arms, eachofwhichis provided with an endless `conveyor movablealong the top` and f hemp is uniformly picked up andfcarriedin a substantiallysmooth and unbroken stream into andthrough..the hemp turning machine.

A still further object of this invention is `to provide a lmachine for turning over windrowed hemp in which the hemp is uniformly picked up and carried in an unbroken streamlinto the machine on a pick-up structure having a width which is appreciably less than the over-al1 length of the hemp.

Another object of this invention is to provide a. structure for continuously guiding the hemp or like material along its entire path oftravel into and through a hemp turning machine` in a-smooth unbroken stream and without punching or tangling.

A particular feature of this invention is found l in the provision of` a machine for turning over bottom of an arm andhaving pick-up fingers i in a spacedrelation. Due to' `the length-of the hempit is impractical `to`construot ia pick-up means having a "width in the "neighborhood `of fromtwelve `feet to 'fteenfeet becauseof the resultant largesize and `expenseof the pick-up means as welles thefinconvenience in handling and storing the over-'al1 hemp turning machine.

. Where the width of the piek-up means is appreciably `less 'than the"lengthof the hemp, it is apparent that the portion ofthe hemp not supported"` on `the pick-up means will tend to tip downwardly. As 'a result the hemp becomes tangled `as it progresses into the machine. A further diiliculty in' picking up hemp `arises from its `cane-like `structure Vwhich causes the h'emp to roll `ahead of the pick-up arms-and accumulate in bunches `forwardly-offthefpick-up arms. This rolling action prevents a'uniform feeding of the hemp into `the pick-up means so` thatthelstream ofhemp flowing into'the machine isof an uneven or non-uniform thickness. Yet another diiculty` is found in the fact 'fthat' long hemp is easily blown' about by wind when it is raised from the ground. whichwind acts to entangle 'and bunch the hempas it travels through the machine. As a result` of these difficulties considerable .trouble has been encountered inaccomplishing a completeiand uniform turning over of the hemp. f

It is' an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved machine for turning over windrowed hemp or the like.

Anotheroble'ct of this 'invention isito provide a hemp turning machine' in whichfwindrowed windrowed hemp, having a pick-up unit comprised of a `series of downwardlyand forwardly extended arms, `in which a yieldably supported elongated-guide unit is extended forwardly and upwardly from the arms and rearwardly of the arms to -the hemp receiving platform of the machine. Onadvance of the machine along lthe ground the forward end portion of the guide unit passes over the butt ends of the hemp in "a windrow to yieldably press the hemp toward the ground and prevent the hemp from rolling upV ahead of the arms, while the remainingportions of the guide unit support the hemp against the arms as the hemp is carried `upwardly ofthe arms into the hemp `turning machine, and against the hemp carryingtable or platform` on which the hemp is moved through the machine.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will `become apparent from the following'description when taken in connection-.with the accompanying drawingsinwhich: Y

Fig. 1 is a plan viewof a hemp turning machine embodying the hemp guide meansof this invention, with parts of the hemp turning. machine being broken away for the purpose of clarity;

Fig', 2 is an elevational side view of the hemp turning machine lookingfupwardly, as `viewed in Fig. l, andshowing the vrelative assembly of the pick-up structure and guide means in the rhemp turning machine. with a portion of the hemp turning machinebeing removed to more clearly show its construction; t

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational side view of the machine looking down as viewed `in Fig. 1 and showing the Astructure for delivering the "hemp from the machine to the ground; l g

Fig. 4 islan enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the lined- 4 in Fig. 1 showing the drive means for the pick-up structure;`

Fig. 5 is an elevational sectional View taken. on theline '5J-5in Fig. 4 showing the` hemp `extended beyond the confines of the pick-up structure; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the pickup drive means as seen on the line 6 6 in Fig. 4,

Referring to the drawings the hemp turning machine of Ithis invention is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as having a horizontal frame I0 including l-ongitudinal frame members II and II a. frame I l! is supported on ground wheels I2 and .I3 offset from each other longitudinally of the frame I0. Supported on the rear por-tions of the longitudinal frame members II and IIav is a horizontal platform I4 of substantially semi-circular shapehaving its fiat side I6 facing toward the front of the machine. VA vertical shaft I1 mounted on the frame I rotatably supports a The three of which are shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The arms 38 are pivotally mounted at one end on a shaft 39, located adjacent the receiving end 3| of the platform I4, and extend downwardly and forwardly away from the platform end 3| (Figs. 2 and 4). The arms 38 are held in a spaced relation axially of the shaft 39 by rods 4I), each of which is pivoted at one end 4I) on the shaft 39, and connected at an opposite end 4Gb to the forward portion of an associated pick-up arm 38 (Figs. 1 and 5). The lower or forward end of each arm 38 carries a sprocket 4| which is in aligni ment longitudinally of an arm with a correspondrotary hemp feeder I8 movable over the platform I4 in a path concentric with the annular co-ntour ofthe platform I4. y

The hemp feeder I8 is comprised of an inner rim I9 and an outer rim 2| concentrically arranged in a horizontal plane and connected together by diametrically extended cross arms 22. Angularly spaced about each rim I9 and 2| and depending downwardly therefrom in a straddling relation to substantially the top level of the platform I4 are a plurality of inverted U-shaped spring fingers or prongs 23. Rotation of the hemp feeder I8 is accomplished by means including a pulley 24 which is assembled on the cross arms 22 in a superposed relation with 4the inner rim I9 and mounted on the shaft I1. Pulley 24 is connectedby a belt 25 with a' horizontal driving pulley 26 mounted on a verticalshaft 21 which is carried on the'frame I0 on the forward ends of the 'Y longitudinal frame members II and IIa. The shaft 21 is operatively connected, through a gear box 28, with a drive shaft 29 to which power is supplied from a' tractor or the like (not shown) for pulling the hemp turning machine over the ground.

,In the operation of the machine, as it is advanced along a hemp windro-w, the hemp to be turned over is picked up from the ground and carried to the receiving end 3| of theflat side I6 of the platform I4 by the combined action of the pick-up structure 32 and guide means 30 of this invention, which will be later described. As the hemp approaches the receiving end 3| it is engaged by the lingers 23 on the rims I9 and 2| of the hemp feeder I8 a-nd moved horizontally on the platform I4 in a circular path to the delivery end 33 of the platformY which is located substantially op-posite the receiving end 3 I.

Ahead of the delivery end 33 are forwardly and downwardly curved rod portions 34 and 35 to be later explained (Figs. 1 and 3). vOn passage of the hemp between the platform delivery end 33 yand thecurved rod portions34 and 35 the hemp is discharged to the ground, as is clearly shown in Fig. 3, and then turned'over due to the travel of the machine over the ground. The discharged hemp is `thus arranged in a windrow, laterally spaced from theiirst windrowfrom which it was picked up, but in a reverse or upside-down position relative to its position when in such first row.

As previously explained it is desirable that the hemp be supplied to the hemp turning machine in a substantially unbroken stream and uniformly turned over. This is accomplished in the present invention by the provision of the pick-up structure 32 and guide' means,` indicated generally at gg and including the curved rod portions 34 and I The pick-up structure 32 has a series of arms, 331

v15 of ing sprocket 42 rotatably supported on the shaft 39. An endless conveyor 43 is arranged about eachpair of sprockets 4I and 42 for travel along ithe top and bottom of an arm, with pick-up fingers 44 being carried in a spaced relation on a conveyor. The lower end of an arm 38 has a supporting sled or runner 46 on its under side to provide clearance for the lingers 44 relative to the ground.

The conveyors 43 are operated together from the shaft 39 through a driven gear 41, mounted on the shaft 39 and connected by a chain 48 with an idler gear 49 supported on a spring-tensioned bracket 5| pivoted at 52 on the frame I0 at -a position rearwardly of the ground wheel I3 (Figs. 4, 5 ,and 6). Intermediate the gears 41 and 49, and in driving engagement with one side of the chain 48 is a driving gear 53 rotatably mounted on a shaft 54 for the ground wheel I3. Connection and disconnection of the driving gear 53 with the wheel shaft54 to control the operation of the conveyors 43 is accomplished by a slip clutch mechanism 56, of a usual type, supported on the shaft 54 and actuated by a manually operated lever 51 connected with the clutch mechanism 56 through a lever system v58. I-t is seen, therefore. that the conveyors 43 are driven from the ground wheel I3 and that the hemp feeder I8 is driven from the tractor which pulls the hemp turning machine.

The guide means 30 includes a guide or press unit 31 which is comprised'of an angulate rod having one end 59 pivoted in a bracket 6I carried on the frame member II (Figs. 1, 4and 5). From its end 59 the rod 31 extends laterally outwardly and downwardly from the frame member I I, and then bends rearwardly in a straight rear portion 52 which extends upwardly in a spaced relation above the pick-up structure 32, substantially between the two inner pick-up arms 38- and terminates at the upper end of the pick-up arms. The forward portion of the guide rod 31 thus proiects upwardly and transversely ahead of the pick-up structure 32, while its rear portion 82 extends upwardly and rearwardly in a spaced relation above the pick-up structure. It is seen, therefore` that the rod 31 is pivotally supported only at its forward portion on the frame member I l'. The rod 31 is thus free to be pivoted or swung in an up and down direction about the pivot 59, with this pivotal action in turn varying the distance between the rod 31, and the ground and conveyors 43 for the purpose of maintaining a downward pressure on the hemp ahead of and' travelling upwardly on the arms 38.

Connected at one end with the forward portion of the rod 31 at the transverse section there of is a supporting rod 63, which is pivoted at its opposite end 64 on the frame member IIv at a position rearwardly of the pivot bracket 6I for the rod 31.

Thus referringI to Fig. 4, the forward portion the guide rod 31 rides across the top of the 'wlndrowed hemp `and presses downwardly on the hemp aheadof the pick-up arms to prevent the hemp from being `rolled or bunched forwardly of the arms 38 by the action of the pick-up ngers 44.` If the windrow becomes thick the rod 31, will be pivoted in an upward direction. This pivoting of therod concurrently increases its clearance relative to the ground and to the conveyors 43. Should the windrow of hemp thin out the rod 31 will pivot downwardly to concurrently decrease its clearance relative to the ground and to the conveyors 43. The rod 31 is thus automatically operated in direct `response to` the thickness of the hemp windrow to continuously maintain a downward pressure both on the `hemp ahead of the pick-up structure, and on the hemp carried on the pick-up structure 32.

. The rod 31,thus functions to maintain a uniform feeding of the hemp into the pick-up structure, and a, uniform travel of the hemp on the pick-up 32.

A uniform travel of the hemp about the circular platform without bunching or tangling is accomplished by means including a guide rod 66 integrally formed with the rod portions 34 previously mentioned in connection with Fig. 3.

The rod 66, as shown in Fig. 1, is of a semicircular shape corresponding to the platform I4 and in turn to the hemp feeder I8. The forward end portion of the rod 66 is extended longitudinally of the pick-up arms 38 and is pivoted at 61 `to a transverse frame member 50 carried on the frame members I I and I la forwardly of the pickup arms 38. The opposite end portion of the rod 4 `66 terminates in the rod portions 34, `three of i which portions are illustrated in Fig. 1. The rod portions 34 are connected at a common point 61 to the rod 66 and diverge outwardly and are turned downwardly from the rod 66 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The center one of the three rod.

` portions 34 has its free end pivoted at 68 in a bracket 69 supported on a transverse frame member 1I extended laterally outwardly from the frame member Ila. Cooperating with the rod portions 34, in guiding the hemp from the discharge end 33 of the platform I4 to the ground, is `a. rod 12 supported at one end on the transverse member 1I and curved upwardly and rearwardly from the member 1I in substantial alignment with the rod portions 34 in a direction transversely of the machine (Figs. 1 and 3).

The intermediate or semi-circular portion of the guide rod 66 is positioned on the platform I4 concentrically about the inner wheel I9 of the hemp feeder I8, the rod 66 normally resting directly on the platform I4. As the hemp carried on the pick-up structure 32 approaches the receiving end 3l of the platform I4 it engages and lifts the forward end portion of the guide rod 66, prior to passing out fro-m under the rear portion 52 of the guide 31. Since the weight of the rod E6 is carried on the hemp, the downwardpressure `initially applied on the hemp by the rod 31 is continued by the rod 66 and maintained throughout the travel of the hemp on the platform I4. Since the rod 66 is pivotally supported at its opposite ends it is freely movable relative to the platform I4 and self-adjustable to always ride on the top of the hemp flowing through the machine.

The hemp holding, or pressing action of the guide rod 66, relative to the hemp on the plat form I4, is supplemented by a ring 14 fioatingly supported on bolts 16 from the inner rim I9 and depended therefrom between the legs of the spring pick-up fingers 23 on the rim I3 (Figs. i

ISI)

and 5). A coil spring 11 is mounted about each bolt 16 between'the ring 14 and the bottom of the rim I3 to provide a yieldable downward pressure on the hemp as it tends to push the ring 14 upwardly.

In the operation of the hemp turning machine the forward `end portion of the guide or press rod 31 travels over the butt ends of the hemp. During the advance of the hemp turning machine the forward portion of the rod 31 rides over the top of a windrow and packs or presses the hemp toward the `ground at the time it is engaged by the pick-uplingers 44. By virtue of this pressing action by the forward portion of the guide rod 31 the hemp is prevented from rolling ahead of the pick-up structure 312 and bunching forwardly of the lower ends o-f the arms 38. Further, because of the packing of the hemp by the guide rod 31 at the lower ends of the pick-up arms 38 the hemp is uniformly gathered by the pick-up ingers 44 for carrying upwardly in a smooth stream on the conveyors 43.

As best shown in Fig. 5 an appreciable length of the hemp extends outwardly from the hemp turning machine. However, because of the rear portion 62 of the guide rod 31, and the forward end portion of the guide rod 66 being in a spaced and continuing relation over the pick-up structure 32 the butt or heavier ends of the hemp are supported against tipping upwardly away from the arms 38 and confined between the guide rods 31 and 66, and the pick-up structure. The positive feeding of the hemp into the pick-up structure 32 and the support of the hemp on the pick-up structure by the guide rod 31 thus combine to produce a smooth and unbroken flow of the hemp from the ground to the receiving end 3l of the platform I4. As the hemp appreaches the upper ends of the arms 38 it is engaged by the lingers 23 of the hemp feeder ii and the rod 66, the lingers 23 moving the hemp about the platform I4 for discharge at the delivery end 33 of the platform in the manner previously explained.

The rod 66 supports the butt ends of the hemp against the platform I4 and prevents any tip ping of the hemp as it passe-s from the pick-up structure on to the platform. As clearly appears from Figs. 3 and 5 the hemp is confined between the rod 66 and the platform I4 over its full length of travel on the platform. All of the hemp thus moved is carried to the delivery end 3l of the platform and then guided to the ground by the curved rod portions 34 and the rod 12 which act to effectively remove all hemp from the fingers 23 so that no hemp is carried by the fingers 23 forwardly of the' platform delivery end 33. Any variations in the thickness of the stream of hemp moving on the platform is ac commodated by the up and down movement of the rod 66 relative to the platform i4. Further because of the continuous support o-f the hemp by the rod 31 against the pick-up structure andA by the rod 66 against the platfornri- I4, the machine can be effectively operated on Windy days without the wind acting to dislodge the hemp from a relative parallel aligned position and into an entangled condition.

Tangling of the hemp with the sprockets 42 at the upper ends of the arms 38 is eliminated by the provision of stripping or guard discs 1t, corresponding in number to the pick-up arm-s 38 and mounted o-n the shaft 39 adjacent a sprocket 42 (Figs. 4, 5 and 5). Each disc 19 is of a diameter such that its periphery is at substantially the ends of the lingers 44 lwhen Athe fingers are passing around a sprocket 42. These guards function to strip the hemp from the fingers 44 about the time the hemp is initially engaged by the spring fingers 23 of the hemp feeder I 8 so that the hemp passes smoothly from the conveyors 43 to the platform l 4.

From a consideration of the iabove description it is seen that the invention provides a hemp turning machine in which windrowed hemp is positively picked up from the ground and conveyed into the hemp turning machine in a smooth unbroken vstream and without the hemp becoming tangled or bunched in any way. The guide or pressure means for accomplishing Vthis desideratum is simple and compact in design and provides for the practical use of a pick-up structure having an over-all width which is appreciably less than the over-all length of the hemp being gathered. Although hemp has been referred to specically in the description it is to be understood that the pick-up structure and guide means of this invention is also applicable to any like material adapted to be cut in windrows.

1t is to be understood also that only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described and that changes and modifications can be made therein which are Within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

In a machine for turning over windrowed hemp with the butt ends of the hemp at one side of a windrow, pick-up means including a series of downwardly andforwardly supported arms spaced transversely of said machine, endless conveyors corresponding to said arms, with` a conveyor extending along the top and bottom of an associated arm, pick-up fingers carried on each conveyor, an elongated guide member, means pivotally supporting said guide member for up and down pivotal movement, with said guide member having a straight portion extended rearwardly in a spaced relation above said arms vand another portion curved upwardly and forwardly of said arms, said guide member, on advance of said machine along the ground, being at said one side of a windrow, with said curved portion adapted to ride across said butt ends to urge the hemp against the ground ahead of said arms, and said straight portion being yeldably engageable with the said butt'ends to support the hemp on said pick-up means against longitudinal tipping movement.

2. In a machine for turning over windrowed material, a horizontal platform of semi-circular shape having a material receiving portion adjacent one end of its fiat side and a material discharge portion adjacent the opposite end of its flat side, with said flat side constituting the forward end of said platform, means for moving the material from said receiving portion to said delivery portion, a pick-up structure extended forwardly and downwardly from said receiving portion, means for pressing the windrowed material ahead of said pick-up structure against the ground, and for supporting the gathered material on said pick-up structure, having one end portioncurved and a substantially straight opposite end portion, means pivotally supporting said pressing means at said curved end portion for up and down pivotal movement, with said curved end portion being positioned `ahead of said pick-up structure, and said straight portion located in a spaced relation above said pick-up structure, means for supporting theV gathered material against said platform comprising a. member having an arcuate form corresponding to the circular contour of said platform, means movably supporting said member for up and down movement relative to said platform, said member having one end projected over said pickup structure adjacent the straight portion of said pressing means, and an opposite end at said material delivery portion constituting a deilector for directing the material at said delivery portion toward the ground.

3. In a machine `for turning over windrowed material, a horizontal platform of semi-circular shape having a material receiving portion at one end of its at side and a material delivery portion at the opposite end of its flat side, meansV for moving the material in a circular path lfrom said receiving portion to said delivery portion, a pick-up structure extended forwardly and downwardly from said receiving portion, means for supporting the gathered windrowed material against said pick-up structure and platform including a member extended from apoint forwardly of said pick-up structure and upwardly in a spaced relation over said pick-up structure, and an arcuate member spacedabove said platform and positioned between said receiving portion and delivery portion, with said arcuate member having a deilector atsaid delivery portion for directing the material from said platform toward the ground.

4. In a machine for turning over windrowed material, a downwardly and forwardly extended pick-up means, an elongated guide member having an upwardly and forwardly curved front end portion located forwardly of said pick-up means and a portion of a substantially straight form extended upwardly and rearwardly inV a spaced relation above said pick-up means, means pivotally supporting said pick-up means for up and down pivotal movement, said curved portion, on advance of the machine along a windrow, being moved in riding engagement across the windrowed material to yeldably urge said material against the ground, and said straight portion being adapted to ride on said material to support the material against said pick-up means as the material travels upwardly on said pick-up means.

5. In a machine for turning over windrowed material, a horizontal platform having a material receiving portion and a material delivery portion, means for moving the material from said receiving portion to said delivery portion, means for picking up and carrying the windrowed material to said receiving portion, means for yeldably urging the material ahead of said pick-up means against the ground, and for yeldably urging the picked up material against said pick-up means comprising an elongated member ridable on said material and having a front portion locatedforwardly of said pick-up means, and a rear portion extended upwardly and rearwardly above said l pick-up means, means pivotally supporting said elongated member for upland down pivotal movement, means for yeldably urging the material against said platform between said receiving portion and said delivery portion, and means movably supporting said last mentioned means for up and down movement relative to said plat- Y form.

JOSEPH B. KUCERA. 

